Rail-joint.



C. C. ROSS.

RAIL JOINT.

APPLICATION FILED 11.1, 1010.

984,492. Patented Feb. 14, 1911.

nventor,

Attorneys CHARLEY G. ROSS, OF ROSWELL, TERRITORY 013 NEW MEXICO.

RAIL-JOINT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 1, 1910.

Patented Feb. 14, 1911.

Serial No. 552,782.

To all whom it may concern:

lie it known that l. Ciuumzv C. Ross a citizen of the United States,residing at. Roswell in the county of Chaves and Territory of NewMexico, have invented a new and useful Rail-Joint of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to rail joints and its object is to provideimproved means whereby the adjoining ends of two rails, may be not, onlysecurely held together but rigidly supported so as to eliminate saggingand thus prevent wheels from pounding to an undesirable extent whenpassing over the meeting ends of the rails.

Another object is to provide means for fastening the rails together,said means dispensing with the use of bolts or the like and being soconstructed as to automatically grip the rails. any play between theparts being taken up automatically by devices provided for that purpose.

\Vith these and other objects in view the invention consists of certainnovel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter morefully described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention hasbeen shown.

In said drawings:-Figure 1 is a view partly in side elevation and partlyin section of a rail joint constructed in accordance with the presentinvention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged section through the joint and showing arail in position therein. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a portion ofthe rail chair.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference 1 designates thebase of the chair or body portion of the joint. this base being providedwith upstanding flanges 2 which are inclined upwardly toward each otherthus forming elongated pockets 3 between them and the base. the saidpockets being closed at their ends by upstanding webs 4:. The distancebetween the webs at each end of the chair is substantially equal to thewidth of the base of a rail The pockets 3 are adapted to receive therounder lower edge portions of rail gripping plates 6 each of which isformed, along one edge, with a longitudinally extending head 7 soproportioned as to fit snugly against the web of the rail 5 and to bearupwardly against the head of the rail and downwardly against the baseflange thereof. Each of these plates (3 extends close to the webs -latthe two ends of the pocket in which the plate is located and it will beapparent therefore that the said webs t will hold the plates (3 againstlongitudinal move ment within the pockets 3.

\Yhen it is desired to connect two rails by means of the jointconstituting the present invention. the meeting end portions of therails are placed upon the base '1 and between the webs -'l and flanges 2after which the plates (3 are inserted between the rail and each of theflanges 2 so as to bring their rounded lower edges into the innermostportions of the pockets 2-). The said plates are then swung toward therail so as to bring their heads T into contact with the web of the railand in position between the head and base tlanges thereof. \Yith theparts thus located a space is formed between each of the plates (3 andthe adjoining tlangc 2 and. this space is adapted to receive a wcdgingstrip 8 extending throughout the length of the plate (3 and which isadapted to be driven into the space referred to so as to bind the plate(i tightly against the base 1v and against the rail Each of the plates 8has one or more apertures 9 therein and these apertures are adapt.- edto register with recesses '10 formed in the upper edges of the tlanges2. It will be seen therefore. that should it be desired to remove eitheror both of the wedge strips 8, it merely necessary to insert the end ofa crow-bar or the like into one of the notches l0 and the aperture 9 andto pry the strip 8 out of the space in which it is seated. Obviouslyshould the parts work loose as a result of the jarring to which they aresubjected. the wedging strip 8 will automatically move downwardly bygravity so as to take up all lost motion.

By utilizing wedging strips 8 in connection with rail clamping heads 7.it becomes unnecessary to utilize bolts for the purpose of fastening therails in place and the expense of drilling bolt holes in the rails andusing bolts in connection with the rails is thus eliminated.

Tt will be understood of course that the fastening device which has beendescribed does not interfere with the expansion and contraction of therails.

Various changes can of course be made in the construction andarrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit orsacrificing any of the advantages of the invention as defined in theappended claims.

lVhat is claimed is l. A rail joint including a rail supporting basehaving upstanding portions forming pockets therein having closed ends,rail gripping members mounted within and extending upwardly from thepockets, and wedging devices mounted upon said members and within thepockets, said members and devices being held against longitudinaldisplacement by the ends of the pockets.

2. A device of the class described including a rail supporting basehaving upstanding portions forming pockets above the base, the ends ofthe pockets being closed rail gripping members movably mounted withinthe pockets and converging upwardly toward each other and meansinsertible between each of said members and one wall of the pocket forbinding the member upon an inserted rail, said means and members beingheld against longitudinal displacement by the closed endsof the pockets.

3. A device of the class described including a rail supporting basehaving upstanding portions forming pockets, rail, gripping membersmovably mounted within the pockets and held against longitudinalmovement by the walls thereof, and means insertible between said membersand the upper walls of the pockets for binding the members upon oppositefaces of an inserted rail.

4-. A. device of the class described including a base constituting arail support, there being upstanding portions upon the base and forminglongitudinally extending parallel pockets closed at their ends, railgripping members mounted to swing within the pockets and held againstlongitudinal movement by the walls of said pockets, and wedging devicesinsertible between said members and the upper walls of the pockets forbinding the members upon a rail inserted therebetween.

A device of the class described including a rail supporting base havingupstanding portions forming pockets, oppositely disposed rail. engagingmembers mounted for swinging movement within the pockets and wedgingstrips insertible between said members and the upper walls of thepockets, each strip having apertures for the reception of ing a railsupporting base having upstand- I ing portions forming pockets closed attheir ends. said pockets being parallel, plates eX- tendinglongitudinally within the pockets and mounted for swinging movementtherein, each plate having a rail gripping head and the said platesconverging upwardly,and means insertible between each plate and theupper wall of the pocket for shifting said plate to bind its head uponan inserted rail, said plates and means being held against longitudinaldisplacement by the closed ends of the pockets.

8. A device of the class described including a base having upstandingportions forming parallel pockets, plates mounted for swinging movementwithin the pockets, said plates being held against longitudinal movementby the end walls of the pockets, each plate having a rail gripping headalong one edge and the two plates converging upwardly.

9. A device of the class described including a base having upstandingportions forming parallel pockets, plates mounted for swinging movementwithin the pockets, each plate having a rail gripping head and the twoplates converging upwardly, apertured wedging strips insertible betweenthe plates and the upper walls of the pockets to bind the heads upon arail inserted therebetween the said upstanding portions having notchesadapted to register with the apertures in the wedging strips.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLEY C. ROSS.

lVitnesses FRANK S. .CnossoN, 5110. W. Pen.

